Sebelius: Illegal immigrant debate a 'red herring'

By MANU RAJU

09/13/2009 10:28 AM EDT

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) may have said that Barack Obama was lying when he said the health care bill won't cover illegal immigrants, but the secretary of Health and Human Services said Sunday that opponents are drumming up a false debate over the issue.

"The language will be clear when the final draft is written," Kathleen Sebelius said on ABC's "This Week." 'There's a section in the House bill -- as Congressman Wilson well knows that says that [illegal immigrants won't be covered] very explicitly.

"I think this is a red herring."

But Republican Tim Pawlenty, the Minnesota governor, said that "unless you have an enforcement mechanism in place, it doesn't mean much."